Mechanism for releasably clamping a wheel assembly to a header cutterbar

ABSTRACT

A wheel assembly for use in converting a crop harvesting header from a harvest mode to a transport mode is disclosed wherein the wheel assembly is clamped onto the cutterbar by a clamping mechanism such that the header can serve as its own carrier. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping member pivotally connected to the main body member and an overcenter locking mechanism to force the clamping member into engagement with the cutterbar such that the main body member is releasably engaged with the mower guards to mobilely support a part of the weight of the header above the ground. The clamping mechanism is affixed to one end of a support post, which also has a spindle rotatably mounting a wheel at the opposing end.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to crop harvesting headersattachable to a combine to initiate the crop harvesting process and,more particularly, to improvements in the transportation of the headersover the ground from one work location to another.

Crop harvesting headers used to harvest grain crops, such as wheat,oats, barley, etc., generally include a reciprocating type cutterbar atits forwardmost location to sever standing crop material and initiatethe crop harvesting process. Such grain headers typically include a reelto convey severed crop material rearwardly from the cutterbar and aconsolidating mechanism, such as an auger, to consolidate the severedcrop material and discharge it rearwardly through an appropriate openingin the header to the combine for further harvesting treatment.

With the advent of higher capacity harvesting machines, the size of thecrop harvesting headers, as measured by the length of the cutterbarextending between the forwardly extending sidesheets at opposing ends ofthe cutterbar, has been steadily increasing. For example, it is notunheard of for the cutting width of current grain headers to approachthirty feet. Clearly, the trend is to increase the size of these headersas this practice decreases the amount of harvesting time necessary toharvest a given crop and increases the harvesting efficiency of thelarger capacity combines.

However, increasing the size header creates problems of transporting theheader from field to field or from one location to another, particularlyif the path along which the header is transported involves the crossingor utilization of public roads. Mechanisms, such as taught in U.S. Pat.No. 3,245,695, which permit the towing of the crop harvesting header ina transverse attitude behind the combine, inherently have the problem ofdisposition of the wheeled undercarriage and supporting structure duringthe harvesting operation. Typically, such devices are left at thelocation in the field where the harvesting operation begins; however, bythe time the harvesting is finished for the day, the combine may beseveral miles from its place of beginning. Other methods of transportingheaders include utilization of a separate vehicle to carry the headerfrom location to location. Therefore, it is highly desirable to providea self-contained transpoting mechanism to avoid the expense andinconvenience of providing additional transporting structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to overcome the aforementioneddisadvantages of the prior art by providing a self-contained apparatuswithin a crop harvesting header to provide for the transportation of theheader in a transverse attitude rearwardly of the combine.

It is an advantage of this invention that the wheeled structure formobilely supporting the crop harvesting header off the ground duringtransport is carried with the header during the normal crop harvestingoperation.

It is another object of this invention that the transport apparatus fora combine header can be partially dismantled and stored within orcarried on the header during the crop harvesting operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a mechanismdetacably connectable to the cutterbar of a crop harvesting header tomobilely support a part of the weight of the header off the ground whenconverted to a transport mode.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a clamping mechanismto detachably connect a wheel assembly to the mower guards of a headercutterbar.

It is a feature of this invention that the clamping mechanism isprovided with an overcenter locking mechanism to fix the wheel assemblyin the desired position on the cutterbar.

It is another advantage of this invention that the conversion of theheader from the harvest mode to the transport mode can be accomplishedon either a rigid or a flexible header.

It is a still further object of this invention to utilize the header asits own carrier for transport thereof from one location to another.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for the transportation of a crop harvesting header in atransverse attitude rearwardly of the combine, which is inexpensive ofmanufacture, carefree of maintenance, facile in assemblage, and simpleand effective in use.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplishedaccording to the instant invention by providing a wheel assembly for usein converting a crop harvesting header from a harvest mode to atransport mode is disclosed wherein the wheel assembly is clamped intothe cutterbar by a clamping mechanism such that the header can serve asits own carrier. The clamping mechanism includes a clamping memberpivotally connected to the main body member and an overcenter lockingmechanism to force the clamping member into engagement with thecutterbar such that the main body member is releasably engaged with themower guards to mobilely support a part of the weight of the headerabove the ground. The clamping mechanism is affixed to one end of asupport post, which also has a spindle rotatably mounting a wheel at theopposing end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of this invention will become apparent upon considerationof the following detailed disclosure of the invention, especially whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of a crop harvesting header,incorporating the principals of the instant invention, attached to thefeeder house of a combine base unit in the harvest mode;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical plan view of a crop harvesting headerconverted to the transport mode and being towed behind the combine baseunit;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the crop harvesting header in thetransport mode as shown in FIG. 2, taken along lines 3--3;

FIG. 4 is a partial rear view of the crop harvesting header in thetransport mode as shown in FIG. 2, showing the right end of the header,corresponding to lines 4--4 in FIG. 2, in the harvest mode being shownin phantom;

FIG. 5 is a partial rear view of the crop harvesting header in thetransport mode as seen in FIG. 2, showing the left end of the header,corresponding to lines 5--5 of FIG. 2, the ground engaging supportposition of the jack being shown in phantom;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detailed view, corresponding to the view seen inFIG. 3, of the clamping mechanism for attaching the second wheelassembly to the header cutterbar, the movement of the over centerlatching device and the clamping member being shown in phantom; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the clamping mechanism seen in FIG. 6 and takenalong lines 7--7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIG. 1, adiagrammatical plan view of a crop harvesting header attached to acombine base unit in a harvest mode can be seen. Any left and rightreferences are used as a matter of convenience and determined bystanding at the rear of the combine base unit, facing the forward end,the direction of travel. The crop harvesting header 10 is shown attachedto the feeder house structure 12 through which crop material is conveyedto the combine 14 for harvesting treatment.

The header 10 normally includes a frame 11 supporting spaced apartsidesheets 13 defining the width of the header, a reciprocatingcutterbar 30 forwardly disposed of the header 10 between the sidesheets13 to sever standing crop material and initiate the crop harvestingprocess, a floor 16 extending rearwardly from the cutterbar over whichsevered crop material is conveyed, and an auger 18 operativelycooperating with the floor 16 to consolidate severed crop material anddischarge it through a centrally located aperture 19 in the header 10 tothe feeder house 12 which in turn conveys the severed crop to thecombine base unit 14 for further harvesting treatment. Typically, a reel(not shown for reasons of clarity) is mounted between the sidesheets 13above the cutterbar 30 to convey severed crop material over the floor 16from the cutterbar 30 to the consolidating auger 18.

According to the principals of the invention disclosed herein, theheader 10 is convertible between a harvest mode, shown in FIG. 1, and atransport mode, shown in FIG. 2. By transporting the header 10 in atransverse attitude, as seen in FIG. 2, the overall transport width issignificantly reduced from the normal harvest mode, seen in FIG. 1. Byutilizing the apparatus carried by the header during the harvest mode,the header can be conveniently and easily converted to its transportmode and the header then becomes its own carrier.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the details of the instant inventioncan readily be seen. The header frame 11 is generally comprised of anupper transverse box-like main beam 21 and a lower box-like transversemain beam 23 formed with a passageway 22 transversely therethrough andconnected with the upper beam by a series of generally vertical framemembers 24. A plurality of supporting ribs 26 are fixed to the lowerbeam 23 and project forwardly therefrom to support the floor 16 and thereciprocating cutterbar 30. As seen in FIG. 3, the floor 16 continues ina vertical manner adjacent the vertical frame members 24 to form theback wall 29 of the header in which the discharge opening 19 is located.

One skilled in the art will readily recognize that it is currentlycommon practice to produce a rigid header, depicted in FIG. 3, in whichthe support ribs 26 are rigidly affixed to the lower beam 23 and aflexible header in which the support ribs 26 are pivotally connected tothe lower beam 23 in such a manner that the cutterbar 30 is free tovertically flex to more closely follow undulation in the ground surface.Although the instant invention is shown in conjunction with a rigidheader, a flexible header equipped with the apparatus in the mannershown, with one or more modifications to provide adequate support alongthe header cutterbar, can likewise be converted to a transport mode.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 6 and 7, the cutterbar 30 includes atransverse primary support bar 31, shown in the form of an angle iron,affixed to the support ribs 26, as by welding. A series of mower guards32 are connected to the primary support bar 31 by fastening members 33,such as bolts with nuts threaded onto them, in a transverse array alongthe cutterbar 30 between the sidesheets 13. A sickle assembly 35 isoperatively received within the series of mower guards 32 forreciprocatory motion relative thereto. The sickle assembly is formed bymounting a series of triangularly shaped knife elements 36 to anelongated knife back 37. As is well known in the art, the reciprocatorymovement of the knives 36 relative to the mower guards 32 causes ashearing action to sever standing crop material. A wear strip 39 isprovided to help maintain the position of the sickle assembly 35relative to the mower guards 32 during the cutting action, as isdescribed in further detail in co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 203,173.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wheel assemblies 40,50 used inconverting the header 10 from its harvest mode to its transport mode canbe seen. The first wheel assembly 40 is pivotally connected to the frame11 by pivot 41. The first wheel assembly 40 includes a support post 43connected at one end to the pivot 41 and at its opposing end to aspindle 44, which, in turn, rotatably mounts the wheel 45. When pivoteddownwardly into the ground engaging position, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4,the first wheel assembly 40 supports a part of the weight of the header10 above the ground for movement in a transverse direction.

During the harvest mode, the first wheel assembly is pivoted into aretracted position, shown in phantom in FIG. 4. To hold the first wheelassembly 40 in either the retracted position or the ground engagingposition, a locking device 46 is provided. The locking device 46includes a spring loaded locking pin 47 slidably received through thesupport post 43 adjacent the pivot 41 and engageable with a suitablyapertured plate 49 stationarily affixed to the frame 11. The spring 48biases the locking pin 47 into engagement with the plate 49.

The second wheel assembly 50 is carried within a mounting bracket 51 andsupported on support dowels 52 affixed to the frame 11 adjacent theretracted position of the first wheel assembly 40. One skilled in theart will readily realize that other arrangements, within the scope andprincipals of the instant invention, for carrying the first and secondwheel assemblies on the header during the harvesting mode, beside thatdepicted in FIG. 4, are possible. For example, by rearranging theposition of the mounting bracket 51 and the support dowels 52 andproviding the retracted position of the first wheel assembly 40 to swingto the left, as viewed in FIG. 4, rather than to the right, it would bepossible to provide a nesting arrangement between the first and secondwheel assemblies 40 and 50, with the second wheel assembly 50 beingpositioned at least partially between the wheel 45 and the header frame11.

The second wheel assembly 50 is generally similar in construction to thefirst wheel assembly 40 in that it includes a support post 53 having aspindle 54 affixed to one end for the rotatable mounting of a wheel 55.The opposing end of the support post 53 is attached to a clampingmechanism 70, which is operable to detachably connect the second wheelassembly 50 to the cutterbar 30 for mobilely supporting a portion of theweight of the header 10 for movement in a transverse direction.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the lower transverse beam 23 can beused to store an axle 57 adjacent the mounting of the wheel assemblies40,50 to the frame 11. Spindles 44 and 54 are adapted for connection tothe axle 57 to provide stability between the first and second wheelassemblies 40,50 and thereby form a stable undercarriage for thetransportation of the header 10. The lower beam 23 is provided with aretension collar 58, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, to prevent the axle 57from being unintentionally removed from the lower beam 23. A tab 59 isaffixed to one end of the axle 57 to prevent it from sliding entirelywithin the passageway 22 of the lower beam 23.

At the opposing end of the lower beam 23, a tongue 60 is telescopicallyreceived within the passageway 22. A clevis 61 connected to the end ofthe tongue 60 serves as an attachment mechanism for connecting theheader 10 to the combine base unit or another source of motive power. Apositioning collar 62 affixed to the frame 11 and the corresponding pin63 are cooperable with the tongue 60, having a series of aperturestherethrough which are alignable with the pin 63, enable the clevis 61to be positioned at any given length from the sidesheet 13 of the header10.

A jack 65 is pivotally mounted to the frame 11 of the header 10 adjacentthe tongue 60 at a position spaced from the pivotal mounting 41 of thefirst wheel assembly 40. The jack 65 is pivotally positionable betweenan unobstructing position, seen in solid lines in FIG. 5, and a groundengaging position, shown in phantom in FIG. 5. During the conversion ofthe header 10 from the harvest mode to the transport mode, the jack 65stationarily supports a part of the weight of the header 10 above theground until the clevis 61 can be connected to the towing vehicle. Thehandle 66 is used to manipulate the length of the jack 65, as is wellknown in the art.

Connecting pins 68 and 69 are used to detachably connect the axle 57 tothe spindles 44 and 54, respectively. Connecting pin 68 is utilized withthe mounting bracket 51 to maintain the second wheel assembly 50 in itsmounted position during the harvest mode. Connecting pin 69 is utilizedwith the retension collar 58 to maintain the axle 57 within thepassageway 22 of the lower beam 23 while the header 10 is in the harvestmode. Although connecting pins 63, 68 and 69 are of identical size andshape, it should be noted that the number of pins utilized to store thetransport components during the harvest mode is equal to the number ofconnecting pins utilized to convert the header to the transport mode. Asa result, there are no loose pins to become lost during one mode or theother.

The clamping mechanism 70 is utilized to detachably connect the secondwheel assembly 50 to the cutterbar 30. A main body member having firstgenerally planar portion 72 is mounted to the end of the support post 53at an oblique angle to the line of the support post 53 to correspond tothe angle of the cutterbar 30 relative to the vertical frame members 24.When clamped into position, the first portion 72 engages the undersideof the mower guards 32 to which the second wheel assembly 50 is to beconnected. The first portion 72 has a series of holes 73 therein toreceive the nut and the portion of the fastening bolts 33 extendingbelow the underside of the mower guards 32. A second planar portion 74of the main body member 71 is integrally formed with the first portion72 and engages at least part of the upper side of a part of the mowerguards 32 to which the second wheel assembly 50 is attached. A clampingmember 76 is pivotally connected to the main body member 71 at pivot 77.The clamping member 76 is of a shape to arch upwardly over the mowerguards 32 and includes a downwardly depending leg 78 that engages thecutterbar 30 at a suitable location, such as along the formed wear strip39.

An overcenter locking member 80 is operable to force the clamping member76 downwardly into engagement with the cutterbar 30 to maintain the mainbody member 71 into engagement with the underside of the mower guards32. The fastening members 33 projecting downwardly through the firstportion 72 of the main body member 71 help maintain the main body member71 in the desired position. The locking mechanism 80 includes a latchingmember 82 pivotally connected at pivot 83 to a tab 84 projecting fromthe support post 53. A U-shaped member 86 is pivotally connected to thelatching member 82 at a point 87 spaced from the pivot 83.

A clamping bar 89 interconnects the spaced apart legs 88 of the U-shapedmember 86. The legs 88 are threaded to engage adjustably positionablenuts 91 such that the position of the clamping bar 89 relative to thepivotal connection 87 can be selectively adjusted to vary the pressureexerted by the locking mechanism 80 on the clamping member 76 to holdthe clamping mechanism 70 into the desired position. The main bodymember 71 includes a pair of spaced apart slots 93 to permit the passageof the legs 88 of the U-shaped member 86 when the clamping mechanism 70is locked into place. The solid lines of FIG. 6 show the relativeposition of the individual components of the clamping mechanism 70 whenin the locked position, the phantom lines showing a released position ofthe clamping member 76 and the locking mechanism 80.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the second portion 74 of the main body member71 is positioned both to the left and the right of the clamping member76. Although it is shown in FIG. 7 that each left and right secondportion 74 engage one of the mower guards 32, it should be realized thatthe body member 71 could be made larger to engage more than the fourmower guards depicted in FIG. 7. More particularly, if a flexible headeris to be transported with the apparatus described above, it would bedesirable to provide a clamping mechanism 70 of sufficient size tooverlap two ore more of the support ribs 26, so as to provide amplesupport for the flexible cutterbar 30. Although the first and secondportions 72,74 of the main body member 71 are depicted as being planarin cross section, an alterntive embodiment would involve shaping thefirst and/or second portions 72,74 to more precisely conform to theshape of the mower guards 32 to which they engage.

To convert a crop harvesting header equipped according to the principlesof the instant invention as described above, from the harvest mode tothe transport mode, it is necessary for the operator to raise the header10 above the ground a predetermined distance greater than the height ofeither of the wheel assemblies 40,50 so that there is sufficient roomabove the ground to convert the header to the transport mode. Thefollowing procedure can be accomplished by the following enumeratedsteps in practically any sequence prior to lowering the header to theground. The wheel assembly 40 is moved from its retracted position toits ground engaging position by extracting the locking pin 47 from oneaperture in the plate 49 and rotating the support post 43 about thepivot 41 until the locking pin 47 re-engages the appropriate aperture inthe plate 49.

The second wheel assembly 50 is dismounted from its stored position inthe mounting bracket 51, the connecting pin 68 being removed from thebracket 51 for later use. The second wheel assembly 50 is positioned inlongitudinal alignment, i.e., directly forwardly of, the ground engagingposition of the first wheel assembly 40. The main body member 71 of theclamping mechanism 70 is positioned over the appropriate mower guards 32such that the second portion is engaging the upper side of the mowerguards 32. The clamping member 76 is then swung into position such thatthe depending leg 78 is engageable with the wear strip 39.

The clamping member 76 is locked into place when the clamping bar ismoved into its locking position, as seen in solid lines in FIG. 6, withthe legs 88 of the U-shaped member 86 being received within the slots 93in the main body member 71. The movement of the latching member 82 suchthat the pivot 87 is positioned between the pivot 83 and the supportpost 53 locks the locking mechanism 80 in an overcenter relationship.While clamping the clamping mechanism 70 into place as noted above, thefirst portion 72 of the main body member 71 is positioned such that theholes 73 are aligned with the fastening members 33 extending below theunderside of the mower guards 32.

Prior to finally fixing the clamping mechanism 70 into its lockedposition, the axle 57 is withdrawn from the passageway 22 of the lowerbeam 23 by extracting the connecting pin 69 from the retention collar 58and pulling the axle outwardly. The axle 57 is slipped over the spindles44,54 while there is still sufficient movement in the connection of thesecond wheel assembly 50 to the cutterbar 30 to permit this operation.After clamping the clamping mechanism 70 into its locked position, theconnecting pins 68,69 are utilized to connect the axle to the spindles44,54, respectively. As is well known in the art, cotter pins or thelike can be used to prevent the connecting pins 68 and 69 fromaccidentally withdrawing from the position in which they have beenplaced.

At the left end of the header 10, the jack 65 is lowered from itsunobstructing position to a ground engaging position and the handle 66manipulated until the jack 65 is of the desired length. The connectingpin 63 is withdrawn from the positioning collar 62 and the tongue 60extracted from the passageway 22 of the lower beam 23 until the desireddistance between the celvis 61 and the sidesheet 13 is obtained. Theconnecting pin 63 is then reinserted through the positioning collar 62and through the tongue 60 to lock the tongue 60 in the desired position.

At this point in time, the operator can lower the header 10 until theweight of the header is resting on the first and second wheel assemblies40,50 and the jack 65. The first and second wheel assemblies 40,50 andthe jack 65 providing a three point stance for stationarily supportingthe header 10 above the ground until the base unit can be attached tothe clevis 61. After the header 10 has been disconnected from thecombine base unit 14, the base unit 14 can be positioned until theclevis 61 is attachable to a suitable attachment at the rear of the baseunit 14. After the clevis has been connected, the jack 65 can bedisengaged from the ground surface and returned to its unobstructingposition, as the header is then supportable on the first and secondwheel assemblies 40,50 and the tongue 60. The header 10 can then betowed to the next desired location without the use of additionaltransport structures, as the frame 11 of the header 10 becomes thecarrying structure for the header 10 itself.

The conversion of the header from its transport mode to the harvest modeis substantially the reverse of the procedure enumerated above. The jack65 is moved from its unobstructing position to the ground engagingposition to stationarily support the header 10 above the ground. Thebase unit 14 is detached from the clevis 61 and reconnected to theheader 10 such that the header 10 is mounted in its harvesting positionon the feeder house 12. The header 10 can then be raised off the groundso that the jack 65 and the wheel assemblies 40,50 are no longersupporting the weight of the header. At this time the tongue 60 can beretracted into the passageway 22 of the lower beam 23; the jack 65returns to is unobstructing position; the axle 57 disconnected from thespindles 44,54 and returned in its resting position within thepassageway 22 in the lower beam 23; the second wheel assembly 50disconnected from the cutterbar 30 and remounted in the mounting bracket51 and on the support dowels 52; and the first wheel assembly 40 pivotedto its retracted position with the locking pin 47 appropriately engagedwith the apertured plate 49. The connecting pins 63, 68 and 69 are usedto store the tongue 60, the second wheel assembly 50 and the axle 57,respectively, so that there are no extra connecting pins to get lostbefore reconversion to the transport mode.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiments of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly, as well as in the specific form shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A wheelassembly removably attachable to a cutterbar on a crop harvesting headerto assist in the transport of said header after being operativelydetached from a mobile base unit, said cutterbar having a primarysupport bar defining the transverse length of said cutterbar, aplurality of mower guards connected to said primary support bar andextending generally perpendicularly thereto and a sickle assemblyoperatively received within said mower guards for transversereciprocatory motion relative thereto, comprising:a support post havinga first end and a remote second end, said support post being positionedgenerally vertically beneath said cutterbar when said wheel assembly isattached to said cutterbar; a spindle mounted at said first end of saidsupport post and extending at generally right angles thereto; a wheelrotatably mounted on said spindle to engage the ground after said wheelassembly is attached to said cutterbar to assist in mobilely supportingsaid header above the ground; and releasable clamping means affixed tosaid second end of said support post for the attachment of said wheelassembly to said cutterbar.
 2. The wheel assembly of claim 1 whereinsaid clamping means includes a locking mechanism to hold said wheelassembly in a clamped position on said cutterbar.
 3. The wheel assemblyof claim 2 wherein said clamping means clampingly engages one or more ofsaid mower guards.
 4. The wheel assembly of claim 3 wherein saidclamping means further includes a main body member having a firstportion engageable with the underside of said one or more mower guardsand a second portion engageable with the upperside of one or more ofsaid mower guards.
 5. The wheel assembly of claim 4 wherein said firstportion of said main body member is integrally formed with said secondportion, said second portion being bent at an acute angle to the planeof said first portion.
 6. The wheel assembly of claim 5 wherein saidfirst and second portions of said main body member are generally planarin transverse cross-sectional configuration.
 7. The wheel assembly ofclaim 4 wherein said clamping means further includes a clamping membermovably connected to said main body member and cooperable with saidlocking mechanism to engage said cutterbar and secure said main bodymember into a preselected position relative to said one or more mowerguards.
 8. The wheel assembly of claim 7 wherein said clamping member ispivotally connected to said main body member.
 9. The wheel assembly ofclaim 7 wherein said locking mechanism includes a latching memberpivotally connected to said post, a generally vertically alignableU-shaped member pivotally connected to said latching member and anelongated clamping bar interconnecting the legs of said U-shaped memberand engageable with said clamping member to force said clamping memberinto engagement with said cutterbar.
 10. The wheel assembly of claim 9wherein said latching member is mounted on a tab projecting from thesecond end of said support post, the pivotal mounting of said latchingmember to said tab being eccentric of said post so that said U-shapedmember can be positioned in an overcenter relationship to secure saidclamping means to said cutterbar.
 11. The wheel assembly of claim 9 or10 wherein said main body member includes two spaced apart slotstherein, said U-shaped member being aligned such that the generallyvertically extending legs of said U-shaped member are receivable withinthe slots in said main body member.
 12. The wheel assembly of claim 9 or10 wherein the legs of said U-shaped member are threaded, said elongatedclamping bar being mounted on said legs between nuts threaded onto eachsaid leg, said clamping bar being adjustably connected to said U-shapedmember through manipulation of said nuts to selectively vary theposition of said elongated clamping bar along said legs.
 13. The wheelassembly of claim 7 wherein said mower guards are connected to saidprimary support bar by fastening members projecting below the undersideof said mower guards, said first portion of said main body member havinga predetermined number of holes therein for receiving a correspondingnumber of fastening members projecting below said one or more mowerguards.
 14. The wheel assembly of claim 13 wherein said fasteningmembers comprise bolts having nuts threaded thereon, each said nut beingpositioned below the underside of the respective said mower guard. 15.The wheel assembly of claim 13 wherein said first portion of said mainbody member engages the underside of four mower guards, said secondportion of said main body member engaging at least two of said fourmower guards.
 16. The wheel assembly of claim 13 wherein said spindle ispositioned to rotatably mount said wheel such that said header ismobilely transportable in a direction, transverse to its normaldirection of movement during the harvesting operation.
 17. The wheelassembly of claim 16 wherein said spindle is fixedly mounted on saidsupport post and projects out opposing sides of said post to rotatablymount said wheel on one side and detachably connect to an axle of theopposing side.
 18. A clamping mechanism for detachably connecting awheel assembly to the cutterbar of a crop harvesting header to assist inmobilely supporting the header off the ground for the nonoperationaltransportation thereof, said cutterbar having a primary support bardefining the transverse length of said cutterbar and a plurality ofmower guards connected to said primary support bar by fastening membersextending below said mower guards, said mower guards projectinglongitudinally of said support bar at substantially right anglesthereto, said wheel assembly having a wheel rotatably mounted at one endof a support post by a spindle, comprising:a main body member having afirst portion engageable with the underside of one or more of said mowerguards and a second portion engageable with the upperside of one or moreof said mower guards; a clamping member pivotally connected to said mainbody member and engageable with said cutterbar in a preselected positionabove said main body member, said clamping member being cooperable withsaid main body member to clampingly engage said cutterbar and releasablyaffix said wheel assembly thereto; and a locking mechanism cooperativelyengageable with said clamping member to lock said clamping member in thepreselected position and releasably secure said main body member againstone or more of said mower guards.
 19. The clamping mechanism of claim 18wherein said locking mechanism including a latching member pivotallyconnected to said post, a generally vertically alignable U-shaped memberpivotally connected to said latching member and an elongated clampingbar interconnecting the legs of said U-shaped member and engageable withsaid clamping member.
 20. The clamping mechanism of claim 19 whereinsaid latching member is mounted on a tab projecting from the second endof said support post, the pivotal mounting of said latching member tosaid tab being eccentric of said post so that said U-shaped member canbe positioned in an overcenter relationship to secure said clampingmeans to said cutterbar.
 21. The clamping mechanism of claim 20 whereinthe legs of said U-shaped member are threaded, said elongated clampingbar being mounted on said legs between nuts threaded onto each said leg,said clamping bar being adjustably connected to said U-shaped memberthrough manipulation of said nuts to selectively vary the position ofsaid elongated clamping bar along said legs.
 22. The clamping mechanismof claim 21 wherein said mower guards are connected to said primarysupport bar by fastening members projecting below the underside of saidmower guards, said first portion of said main body member having apredetermined number of holes therein for receiving a correspondingnumber of fastening members projecting below said one or more mowerguards.
 23. The clamping mechanism of claim 22 wherein said main bodymember includes two spaced apart slots therein, said U-shaped memberbeing aligned such that the generally vertically extending legs of saidU-shaped member are receivable within the slots in said main bodymember.
 24. The clamping mechanism of claim 23 wherein said firstportion of said main body member engages the underside of four mowerguards, said second portion of said main body member engaging at leasttwo of said four mower guards.
 25. The clamping mechanism of claim 24wherein said first portion of said main body member is integrally formedwith said second portion, said second portion being bent at an acuteangle to the plane of said first portion.
 26. The clamping mechanism ofclaim 25 wherein said first and second portions of said main body memberare generally planar in transverse cross-sectional configuration.